Did you know St Martin in Wurzburg was once a small chapel? This unassuming building at Friedenstrasse 3 holds a rich history. It’s the current home of the Wurzburg Old Catholic parish.
St Martin wasn’t always a church for Old Catholics. For many years it served as the chapel of a medical missionary institute. This transformation happened in 1971. Before that the Old Catholic community faced many challenges finding a permanent home.
Their story began much earlier. On November 30 1873 the first Old Catholic service took place in a private chapel. This was in the former Domherrnhof Seebach now the Theresienklinik. This marked the start of the Old Catholic community in Wurzburg. Think of the courage it took to hold that first service. They were breaking away from Rome challenging the authority of the Pope. They wanted to adhere to the older traditions of the church. That’s why they are called Old Catholics.
The early years were difficult. The few priests had a huge workload. They served multiple areas including Schweinfurt Romershag Nordlingen and sometimes even Nuremberg Erlangen Bayreuth and Gunzenhausen. Wurzburg itself wasn’t fully served by a dedicated priest until much later. Imagine the dedication and long journeys involved.
After World War II the community was devastated. Many members had perished in the bombing of Wurzburg in March 1945. A large number of the remaining members were refugees from the East. They persevered though. They used an old building then the Evangelical Chapel in the Luitpoldkrankenhaus before finally settling in their present location.
The patron saint of this church is St Martin of Tours. Legend says he shared his cloak with a beggar. His feast day is November 11th. So St Martin’s church in Wurzburg reflects not just a religious history but also a story of resilience. It’s a testament to the enduring faith of a community. It’s a reminder that even in the face of adversity faith can find a home. And today you can visit this peaceful church a quiet place of worship in the heart of Wurzburg.